Electronic device and casing thereof, and manufacturing method of casing

ABSTRACT

A casing of an electronic device including a casing body and a sensing assembly is provided. The casing body includes a button portion. The sensing assembly includes a first conductive line and two first contacts. The first conductive line is disposed on an inner surface of the casing body, and the first conductive line forms a strain sensing pattern on the button portion. The first contacts are disposed on the inner surface of the casing body, and connected to two ends of the first conductive line, respectively. The strain sensing pattern is adapted to result a resistance variation accompanied with a deformation of the button portion when the button portion is deformed, so as to generate an electrical signal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The application generally relates to an electronic device and a casingthereof, and more particularly, to an electronic device having seamlessbutton design and a casing thereof.

2. Description of Related Art

In recent years, technology products are mainly developed to satisfypublic demands in mobility and functionality, and that is why portableelectronic devices such as personal digital assistants (PDA), smartmobile phones, tablet PCs, and notebook (NB) have become mainstream inthe market nowadays.

Generally, a portable electronic device is usually included with buttonsdisposed on a casing body, and switch elements corresponding to thebuttons are provided inside the casing body. The buttons and the switchelements are coupled to each another, and the switch elements arecontrolled by pressing the buttons, so as to achieve functions such aspower switch, volume control, image capturing, or scroll control ofdisplay page. Therefore, the casing body of the portable electronicdevice is required to include external openings correspondingly fordisposing the button, so as facilitate user in operations.

However, above-said disposing method may cause excessive waste ofdisposing space inside the portable electronic device, and an assemblyprocess thereof is also more complex, leading to problems such as highin manufacturing difficulty, long also more complex, leading to problemssuch as high in manufacturing difficulty, long in process time, and lowin assembly yield. On the other hand, dust and moisture may easily enterinside the portable electronic device through gaps between the buttonsand the external openings to significantly reduce lifetime of electronicelements, and affect normal operating functions thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The application is directed to an electronic device and a casingthereof, capable of simplifying processing steps, reducing assemblytime, lowering manufacturing costs and improving assembly yield, as wellas achieving the seamless button design, such that integrity on externalappearance of the electronic device is maintained, and dust and moistureare also prevented from entering inside the electronic device therebyensuring lifetime and reliability of the electronic device.

A casing of an electronic device proposed by the application includes acasing body and a sensing assembly. The casing body includes a buttonportion. The sensing assembly includes a first conductive line and twofirst contacts. The first conductive line is disposed on an innersurface of the casing body, and the first conductive line forms a strainsensing pattern on the button portion. The first contacts are disposedon the inner surface of the casing body, and connected to two ends ofthe first conductive line, respectively. The strain sensing pattern isadapted to result a resistance variation accompanied with a deformationof the button portion when the button portion is deformed, so as togenerate an electrical signal.

An electronic device applying aforesaid casing is further proposed bythe application. The casing encases a body of the electronic device.

A manufacturing method of a casing of an electronic device is alsoproposed by the application. First, a casing body is formed by aninjection molding technology, and the casing body includes a buttonportion. Thereafter, a sensing assembly is electroplated on an innersurface of the casing body. The sensing assembly includes a firstconductive line and two first contacts. The first conductive line formsa strain sensing pattern on the button portion, and the two firstcontacts connect to two ends of the first conductive line, respectively.

Based on above, the strain sensing assembly is manufactured on innerside of the button portion of the casing body (i.e., buttons) by a laserdirect structuring (LDS) according to the application, such that thefunctions of the buttons may be realized by the user pressing the buttonportion of the casing body. In other words, the application is capableof realizing the functions of the buttons without disposing the buttonsor other independent sensing elements additionally on the casing of theelectronic device. As results, processing steps may be significantlysimplified; assembly time may be reduced; manufacturing costs may belowered; and assembly yield may be improved. On the other hand, there isno gap between the casing body and regions that realize the functions ofthe buttons since the electronic device of the application adopts theseamless button design, not only is integrity on external appearance ofthe electronic device maintained, dust and moisture are also preventedfrom entering inside the electronic device thereby ensuring lifetime andreliability of the electronic device.

To make the above features and advantages of the present applicationmore comprehensible, several embodiments accompanied with drawings aredescribed in detail as follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an electronic device according to anembodiment of the application.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the casing depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a partially enlarged view of the casing depicted in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the casing depicted in FIG. 3Ataken along a sectional line I-I.

FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view of the casing depicted in FIG. 3Ataken along a sectional line J-J.

FIG. 4A is a schematic view of the protective layer coated on the innersurface of the casing depicted in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the casing depicted in FIG. 4Ataken along a sectional line A-A.

FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view of the casing depicted in FIG. 4Ataken along a sectional line B-B.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of the electronic device depicted inFIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an electronic device according to anembodiment of the application. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the casingdepicted in FIG. 1. FIG. 3A is a partially enlarged view of the casingdepicted in FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3A, in the presentembodiment, an electronic device 50 includes a body 60 and a casing 100.The casing 100 encases the body 60. The casing 100 includes a casingbody 110 and sensing assemblies 120 and 130. The casing body 110includes button portions 112 and 114. The sensing assembly 120 includesa first conductive line 122 and two first contacts 124, and the sensingassembly 130 includes a first conductive line 132 and two first contacts134. The first conductive lines 122 and 132 are disposed on an innersurface of the casing body 110, and the first conductive lines 122 and132 form strain sensing patterns 122 a and 132 a on the button portions112 and 114, respectively. The first contacts 124 and 134 are disposedon the inner surface of the casing body 110, and connected to two endsof the first conductive lines 122 and 132, respectively. The firstcontacts 124 and 134 are electrically connected to the body 60,respectively. The strain sensing patterns 122 a and 132 a are adapted toresult a resistance variation accompanied with a deformation of thebutton portions 112 and 114, respectively when the button portions 112and 114 are deformed, so as to generate an electrical signal. Morespecifically, the casing body 110 includes a base 110 a and a sidewall110 b stood around the base 110 a, in which the button portions 112 and114 are located on the sidewall 110 b, and the first contacts 124 and134 are located on the base 110 a, for example.

Generally, the electronic device 50 is, for example, a smart phone, aPDA, a table PC, and the casing body 110 of the casing 100 is, forexample, a plastic casing body or a carbon fiber casing body, or acomplex casing body composed of plastic and metal. On the other hand, amaterial of the sensing assemblies 120 and 130 may be, for example, ametal with favorable conductivity such as copper, nickel or silver,which may be formed on the inner surface of the casing body 110 by alaser direct structuring (LDS) technology. The laser direct structuring(LDS) technology refers to a manufacturing technology with 3D-MoldedInterconnect Device (3D-MID) of laser processing, injection molding andelectroplating process. Such manufacturing technology is usually appliedin fields of handset antenna, automotive electronic circuit, ATM casingand medical hearing aid.

A manufacturing method of said casing having the sensing assemblies 120and 130 is roughly described as follows. First, the casing body 110 isformed by an injection molding technology, and the button portions 112and 114 are defined on the casing body 110. In the subsequent processes,the sensing assemblies 120 and 130 are electroplated on the innersurface of the casing body 110 corresponding to the button portions 112and 114, in which a wiring layout and a disposition of the sensingassemblies 120 and 130 may refer to aforesaid description which isomitted herein.

Further description regarding a method of electroplating the sensingassemblies 120 and 130 on the casing body 110 is provided as below.First, a roughening process (e.g., activating the inner surface by usinga method of laser activation) is performed on the inner surface of thecasing body 110, so as to facilitate the subsequent electroplatingprocesses. Accordingly, the inner surface may include microstructures(not illustrated) corresponding to the sensing assembly 120 (includingthe first conductive line 122 and the first contacts 124) and thesensing assembly 130 (including the first conductive line 132 and thefirst contacts 134), such that wirings and contacts formed in thesubsequent processes may be fixed on the inner surface.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the casing depicted in FIG. 3Ataken along a sectional line I-I. FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view ofthe casing depicted in FIG. 3A taken along a sectional line J-J.Thereafter, the casing body 110 is placed into a solution containingmetal particles, and the metal particles may be metal ions of tin,silver, copper, chromium or nickel, so that said metal particles may beattached to the roughened and activated inner surface, thereby forming aseed metal layer 110 d. Lastly, the casing body 110 is placed into aplating solution, so as an electroplating metal layer 110 e is formed onthe seed metal layer 110 d by electroplating (e.g., chemical plating).The electroplating metal layer 110 e is attached to the seed metal layer110 d, and the sensing assemblies 120 and 130 may include said twolayers of the seed metal layer 110 d and the electroplating metal layer110 e (as shown in FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C, respectively), and may be fixedstably on the casing body 110 by the microstructures on the roughenedinner surface. Up to this stage, the manufacture of the casing 100 issubstantially completed.

Herein, the strain sensing patterns 122 a and 132 a respectively formedby the first conductive lines 122 and 132 are, for example, gridpatterns arranged in a zigzag manner. Further, in comparison with acommon strain gauge having a thickness approximately between 200 μm to300 μm, a thickness of the sensing assemblies 120 and 130 isapproximately between 0.5 μm to 50 μm, which is more in line with designrequirements in miniaturization of the existing electronic products.

In the present embodiment, the casing 100 further includes a secondconductive line and second contacts 142, and the second conductive lineis, for example, an antenna coil 140. The antenna coil 140 is disposedon the inner surface of the casing body 110. The second contacts 142 areconnected to two ends of the antenna coil 140, respectively. Morespecifically, a material of the antenna coil 140 and the second contacts142 may also be, for example, a metal with favorable conductivity suchas copper, nickel or silver, which may be formed on the inner surface ofthe casing body 110 by the laser direct structuring (LDS) technology.

In other words, the antenna coil 140 and the second contacts 142 may beformed on the inner surface of the casing body 110 while electroplatingthe sensing assemblies 120 and 130 on the inner surface of the casingbody 110 by using a manufacturing method identical to the method ofelectroplating the sensing assemblies 120 and 130 on the inner surfaceof the casing body 110. Accordingly, the antenna coil 140 and the secondcontacts 142 may also include said two layers of the seed metal layer110 d and the electroplating metal layer 110 e as shown in FIG. 3B andFIG. 3C, and a thickness thereof is approximately between 0.5 μm to 50μm.

In the present embodiment, the casing body 110 includes blocks 116 and118. Generally, the blocks 116 and 118 are integrally formed with thecasing body 110 and protruded from the inner surface of the base 110 aof the casing body 110. The first contacts 124 and 134 are disposed ontop surfaces of the blocks 116 and 118, respectively. The firstconductive lines 122 and 132 further extend along the inner surface ofthe casing body 110 and respective lateral surface of the blocks 116 and118 to respective top surface of the blocks 116 and 118, so as toconnect to the first contacts 124 and 134, respectively.

On the other hand, the second contacts 142 are, for example, disposed onthe top surface of the block 118 together with the first contacts 134,and the first conductive line 132 and the antenna coil 140 respectivelyextend along the inner surface of the casing body 110 and the lateralsurface of the block 118 to the top surface of the block 118, so as toconnect to the first contacts 134 and the second contacts 142,respectively. Naturally, in other possible embodiments, the dispositionof the first contacts 124 and 134 and the second contacts 142 may alsobe adjusted based on actual requirements. For instance, the secondcontacts 142 and the first contacts 124 are commonly disposed on the topsurface of the block 116, or the first contacts 124 and 134 and thesecond contacts 142 are disposed on the same block. Or, the firstcontacts 124 and 134 and the second contacts 142 are respectivelydisposed on the top surfaces of different blocks, but the application isnot limited to the above. More specifically, the block may be designedto increase a disposition height of said contacts, so that electricalconnections between the contacts and the body may be more reliable.

Referring back to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3A, in the present embodiment, thesensing assemblies 120 and 130 are disposed in pairs on the casing body110. In addition, an outer surface 110 c of the casing body 110corresponding to the button portions 112 and 114 of the sensingassemblies 120 and 130 are served as a pressing region P for a set ofbuttons. More specifically, a rigidity of the button portions 112 and114 of the casing body 110 corresponding to the sensing assemblies 120and 130 is less than rigidities of other adjacent portions of the casingbody 110. Therein, the rigidity refers to modulus of elasticity orbending stiffness. In other words, when the same force is applied to thebutton portion 112 of the casing body 110 corresponding to the sensingassembly 120 or the button portion 114 corresponding to the sensingassembly 130 (i.e., the pressing region P) and the other adjacentportions of the casing body 110, a relatively greater deformation may beprovided at the button portion 112 corresponding to the sensing assembly120 (or the button portion 114 corresponding to the sensing assembly130) of the casing body 110. At the time, the strain sensing pattern 122a of the button portion 112 or the strain sensing pattern 132 a of thebutton portion 114 are, for example, in a stretching state. Accordingly,the first conductive line 122 of the button portion 112 or the firstconductive line 124 of the button portion 114 becomes narrower andlonger, such that the strain sensing pattern 122 a of the button portion112 or the strain sensing pattern 132 a of the button portion 114 mayresult the resistance variation accompanied with the deformation of thecasing body 110, so as to generate the electrical signal.

When the body 60 detects the electrical signal, a control unit (notillustrated) disposed in the body 60 may generate a control signalaccording to the electrical signal, so as to control the electronicdevice 50 to execute the corresponding operating functions. Morespecifically, the sensing assemblies 120 and 130 may be units relatingto volume control, and may also be elements relating to functions suchas power switch, image capturing, or scroll control of display page. Itshould be noted that, in comparison with design of capacitive button,the seamless button design with the strain sensing pattern provided inthe application is capable of significantly decreasing a chance forbeing accidentally touched by the user.

On the other hand, the electrical signal may react to a degree of thedeformation of the corresponding strain sensing pattern 122 a (or 132 a)after the force is applied by the user on the button portions 112 (or114). In other words, when the user continuously applies the force onthe button portion 112 (or 114), as the force of pressing gets greater,the corresponding strain sensing pattern 122 a (or 132 a) results theresistance variation accompanied with the deformation of the casing body110, such that the electrical signal may then generated in continuous.At the time, in addition to be used as a switch, the strain sensingpattern 122 a (or 132 a) may further be used as a controller withcontinuity. For instance, it may be applied in mobile phone software(e.g., browser) for scroll control of display page. Accordingly, whenthe user continuously applies the force on the button portion 112 (or114), as the force of pressing gets greater, a speed for scroll controlof displaying page may be increased, so as to improve flexibility forthe user in operations.

In the present embodiment, a thickness of the button portion 112 (or114) of the casing body 110 is, for example, less than thicknesses ofother adjacent portions of the casing body 110. In other words, in casethe casing body 110 is constituted by the same material, structuralstrengths or rigidities of the other adjacent portions of the casingbody 110 may be distinguished by changing the thickness of the casingbody 110. In other words, a greater deformation may be provided byapplying the same force on the button portion 112 (or 114) of the casingbody 110 with the thinner thickness to improve a sensitivity of thesensing assemblies 120 and 130.

FIG. 4A is a schematic view of the protective layer coated on the innersurface of the casing depicted in FIG. 3A. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectionalview of the casing depicted in FIG. 4A taken along a sectional line A-A.FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view of the casing depicted in FIG. 4Ataken along a sectional line B-B. Referring to FIG. 4A, in the presentembodiment, the casing body 110 further includes a protective layer 119.The protective layer 119 is coated on the inner surface of the casingbody 110 to cover the first conductive lines 122 and 124 and the antennacoil 140 (not illustrated), and to expose the first contacts 124 and 134and the second contacts 142. More specifically, the protective layer 119may avoid signal interferences between circuits on the casing body 110and also prevent the circuits from oxidation. A material of theprotective layer 19 is, for example, silicon oxide, silicon nitride,silicon oxynitride, non-conductive plastic or non-conductivehigh-molecular material.

Referring to FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C, after the sensing assemblies 120 and130, the antenna coil 140 and the second contacts 142 are formed on theinner surface of the casing body by the laser direct structuringtechnology, the protective layer 119 is, for example, fully coated onthe inner surface of the casing body 110. Taking the sensing assembly130 as an example, the protective layer 119 may vary along with a ruggedsurface between the first conductive line 132 and the casing body 110.Naturally, the protective layer 119 also covers on the top surface ofthe 118, in which a thickness of the protective layer 119 is under aprinciple of not exceeding the height of the first contacts 134.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of the electronic device depicted inFIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 4A and FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, thebody 60 includes a circuit board 62 and a plurality of elastic contacts64. The elastic contacts 64 are disposed on the circuit board 62, andthe elastic contacts 64 are propped against the first contacts 124 and134, respectively. Generally, the elastic contacts 64 are, for example,conductive springs fixed on a plurality of pads 62 a on the circuitboard 62 by using methods such soldering, locking or embedding. Morespecifically, when the body 60 and the casing 100 are engaged to eachother, the elastic contacts 64 are, for example, in a compressing state,so as to effectively ensure the electrical connection between the firstcontacts 124 and 134 and the circuit board 62.

In summary, in the casing of the application and the electronic deviceapplying such casing, strain sensing assembly is formed on inner side ofthe button portions of the casing body (i.e., buttons) by the laserdirect structuring (LDS) which is the manufacturing technology with3D-Molded Interconnect Device (3D-MID) of laser processing, injectionmolding and electroplating process, so as to achieve the seamless buttondesign. Further, the antenna coil may also be manufactured whilemanufacturing the strain sensing assembly. As results, processing stepsmay be significantly simplified; assembly time may be reduced;manufacturing costs may be lowered; and assembly yield rate may beimproved. In addition, there is no gap between the casing body and thebutton portions since the electronic device of the application adoptsthe seamless button design, not only is integrity on external appearanceof the electronic device maintained, dust and moist are also preventedfrom entering inside the electronic device thereby ensuring lifetime andreliability of the electronic device.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made to the structure of the presentapplication without departing from the scope or spirit of the presentapplication. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the presentapplication cover modifications and variations of this applicationprovided they fall within the scope of the following claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A casing of an electronic device, comprising: acasing body, including a button portion; and a sensing assembly,comprising: a first conductive line disposed on an inner surface of theshell, and the first conductive line forming a strain sensing pattern onthe button portion; and two first contacts disposed on the inner surfaceof the shell and connected to two ends of the first conductive line,respectively, wherein the strain sensing pattern is adapted to result aresistance variation accompanied with a deformation of the buttonportion when the button portion is deformed, so as to generate anelectrical signal.
 2. The casing of the electronic device as recited inclaim 1, wherein the shell comprises a block protruded from the innersurface, the first contacts are disposed on a top surface of the block,and the first conductive line extends along the inner surface and alateral side of the cushion block to connect to the two first contacts.3. The casing of the electronic device as recited in claim 1, furthercomprising a protective layer coated on the inner surface of the shellto cover the first conductive line, and to expose the first contacts. 4.The casing of the electronic device as recited in claim 1, furthercomprising: a second conductive line disposed on the inner surface ofthe shell, wherein the second conductive line is an antenna coil; andtwo second contacts connected to two ends of the antenna coil,respectively.
 5. The casing of the electronic device as recited in claim4, wherein the shell comprises a block protruded from the inner surface,the first contacts and the second contacts are commonly disposed on atop surface of the block, and the first conductive line and the antennacoil extend along the inner surface and a lateral side of the block toconnect to the first contacts and the second contacts, respectively. 6.The casing of the electronic device as recited in claim 4, furthercomprising a protective layer coated on the inner surface of the shellto cover the first conductive line and the antenna coil, and to exposethe first contacts and the second contacts.
 7. The casing of theelectronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein a rigidity of thebutton portion of the shell is less than rigidities of other adjacentportions of the shell.
 8. The casing of the electronic device as recitedin claim 7, wherein a thickness of the button portion of the shell isless than thicknesses of the other adjacent portions of the shell. 9.The casing of the electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein aquantity of the sensing assembly is two, the two sensing assemblies aredisposed on the shell in pairs, and an outer surface corresponding totwo button portions of the two sensing assemblies are served as apressing region for a set of buttons.
 10. The casing of the electronicdevice as recited in claim 1, wherein the shell comprises a base and asidewall stood around the base, the button portion is located on thesidewall, and the first contacts are located on the base.
 11. The casingof the electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the innersurface of the shell comprises a microstructure corresponding to thefirst conductive line to fix the first conductive line on the innersurface.
 12. The casing of the electronic device as recited in claim 1,wherein the first conductive line comprises a seed metal layer and anelectroplating metal layer, the seed metal layer is attached to theinner surface, and the electroplating metal layer is attached to theseed metal layer.
 13. The casing of the electronic device as recited inclaim 1, wherein the electrical signal is capable of reacting to adegree of the deformation of the strain sensing pattern.
 14. Anelectronic device, comprising: a body; and the casing as recited inclaim 1, encasing the body.
 15. The electronic device as recited inclaim 14, wherein the body comprises: a circuit board; and a pluralityof elastic contacts disposed on the circuit board, and the elasticcontacts being propped against the first contacts, respectively.
 16. Amanufacturing method of a casing of an electronic device, comprising:forming a shell by an injection molding technology, and the shellcomprising a button portion; and electroplating a sensing assembly on aninner surface of the shell, the sensing assembly comprising a firstconductive line and two first contacts, wherein the first conductiveline forms a strain sensing pattern on the button portion, and the twofirst contacts connect to two ends of the first conductive line,respectively.
 17. The manufacturing method of the casing of theelectronic device as recited in claim 16, wherein the step ofelectroplating the sensing assembly on the inner surface of the shellcomprises: performing a roughening process on the inner surface of theshell; activating the inner surface; forming a seed metal layer on theinner surface; and electroplating an electroplating metal layer on theseed metal layer, wherein the sensing assembly comprises the seed metallayer and the electroplating metal layer.
 18. The manufacturing methodof the casing of the electronic device as recited in claim 17, whereinwhile electroplating the sensing assembly on the inner surface of theshell, electroplating a second conductive line and two second contacts,wherein the second conductive line is an antenna coil, and the twosecond contacts connect to two ends of the antenna coil, respectively.19. The manufacturing method of the casing of the electronic device asrecited in claim 16, wherein a material of the seed metal layercomprises tin, silver, copper, chromium or nickel.